FAZ MEDIA MANAGER DEFENDS CHIPOLOPOLO, CALLS FOR PATIENCE
Missing three AFCONS in a row came at a cost – recovery will take time…
FAZ Media Manager Godfrey Mwansa Chikumbi has called on Zambian football supporters to be patient with the Chipolopolo rebuilding process, saying the national team’s struggles are a consequence of years of instability and difficult transitions.
Chikumbi acknowledged that the team’s recent results have disappointed supporters, but urged fans to look beyond scorelines and statistics and consider the challenges inherited by the current Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) administration.
“There is no doubt that Chipolopolo’s recent results have disappointed the nation. The frustration of supporters is well understood because nobody is happy when Zambia loses. Nobody enjoys losing,” he said.
He noted that Zambia’s failure to qualify for three consecutive Africa Cup of Nations tournaments — 2017, 2019 and 2021 — had a lasting impact on the national team.
Even after returning to the AFCON finals in 2023 and 2025, Chikumbi said the team’s performances demonstrated that significant rebuilding was still required.
He also criticised the use of statistics covering the national team’s recent 20 matches as evidence that nothing is working, arguing that some figures being circulated combine different levels of football.
“Some people are circulating statistics from the last 20 matches under the current administration as proof that nothing is working. It is incorrect to share such numbers and mislead people. How can people count even Under-23 games?” he asked.
Chikumbi further questioned whether Zambia should view the international friendly against Argentina simply as a defeat, arguing that facing a former world champion was itself a significant occasion for Zambian football.
He also said it was unfair to attribute problems from World Cup qualifying campaigns that predated the current FAZ administration to an administration that has been in office for only about a year.
While acknowledging the importance of statistics, Chikumbi said numbers alone cannot capture the broader rebuilding process required to restore the national team.
“Football teams do not become strong overnight, especially after years of decline. The real question should be whether there is a plan to rebuild and whether the foundations are being put in place for future success,” he said.
Chikumbi pointed to Zambia’s own football history as evidence that successful teams require patience and continuity.
He recalled that Zambia missed the 2004 AFCON before gradually rebuilding to qualify for the 2006 and 2008 tournaments. The team eventually reached the quarterfinals in 2010 before winning the continental title in 2012.
He said that achievement was not produced in one or two years, but through continuity, patience and long-term planning.
According to Chikumbi, one of the major challenges Zambian football has faced since the 2012 AFCON triumph has been managing the transition from one generation of players to another.
He argued that the post-2012 transition was not handled effectively enough, with several experienced players leaving the national team system without a smooth succession plan while younger players were expected to take responsibility immediately.
“The effects of that period are still being felt today,” he said.
Chikumbi said the current FAZ administration has opted for a rebuilding approach that seeks to blend young players with experienced campaigners in an effort to create a balanced squad capable of serving Zambia for years to come.
He acknowledged that the process would come with challenges but described it as necessary for the development of a competitive national team.
He also pointed to efforts to strengthen local coaching, saying FAZ had continued to place confidence in local coaches while supporting improvements in coaching standards through training and capacity building.
“Strong national teams are built on strong coaching structures,” he said.
Chikumbi acknowledged that criticism is an inevitable part of football and leadership, but argued that the current administration should not be held solely responsible for challenges that have accumulated over several years.
“Rebuilding is rarely smooth, and there will be setbacks along the way,” he said.
He further called for greater participation from all stakeholders, including supporters, former players, coaches, clubs, administrators and sponsors, in shaping the future of Zambian football.
Chikumbi said many former players are now involved in national team structures and attributed this to FAZ’s corporate strategic plan, which he said had been informed by ideas from across the football family.
“The challenges are real, but so are the opportunities. Zambia has overcome difficult periods before and emerged stronger,” he said.
He stressed that rebuilding requires patience, investment, planning and collective effort, adding that while supporters understandably want immediate results, sustainable success requires consistency and a clear vision
“The responsibility to restore Chipolopolo to the top belongs to all of us. This is not the time to abandon the project. It is the time to support the team, support the players, contribute ideas and allow the rebuilding process to take shape.”
Chikumbi concluded by wishing Chipolopolo well ahead of Tuesday’s international assignment against Togo.
“The journey may be difficult, but with unity and commitment, Chipolopolo will rise again,” he said.
Football Association of Zambia (FAZ)
FIFA
Keith Mweemba